Christopher Hinton, head of the British military reactors, sent some kind of a 1952 Christmas letter to the huge Windscale complex. Gethin Davey, the capable physicist/engineer managing that complex, responded (handwritten!) a couple of days before Christmas:
Dear Sir Christopher,
Davey, H. Gethin. 1952. Davey to Hinton, Dec. 23, 1952. AB 19/39. National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom.
Thank you for your letter dated 19th Dec., which is most appreciated by all of us at Windscale. The past year has been difficult but also thrilling. Numerous problems were met and faced for the first time and there were occasions when truly we faced “the joy of achievement”. At present we are engaged in reviewing the operating experience gained during the “Hurricane” programme. We are confident that the resulting modifications to plant and procedure will reduce appreciably the hazards of the job, but assure you we are not underestimating the problems which face us during 1953. We promise you, sir, that we will continue to give of our best under your inspiring leadership and we wish you a Happy Christmas and health, strength and success during the coming year.
Yours sincerely,
H. G. Davey
The Hurricane program was the first atomic bomb tests on Australia’s Montebello Island. What “operating experience” is Davey talking about? Windscale produced the bomb material but had nothing to do with the actual tests. Or am I wrong?
I like his description of 1952 as “difficult but thrilling.” And isn’t “the joy of achievement” a marvelous phrase, even if I’m not sure if he’s being straight or oblique.
